s 



Fortieth Annual Report 



At the close of the year the prospects of the industry were but 

 little brighter than at the beginning. In the white-fishing section 

 the inimical conditions referred to above remained unchanged, while 

 in the herring fishery the only encouraging feature — albeit an im- 

 portant one — lay in the fact that stocks of cured herrings had been 

 practically cleared, and that in consequence a brisker demand might 

 reasonably be expected during 1922. On the other hand, the nets 

 owned by the fishermen were in many cases worn out, and it was very 

 problematical whether it would be possible to take advantage of any 

 revival in the industry, owing to the lack of funds with which to pur- 

 chase fresh equipment. The essentials necessary to a revival of the 

 industry are the re-opening of the Kussian market for cured herrings, 

 the stabilisation of the Continental exchanges, and in this country a 

 reduction in the cost of production and distribution ; and until these 

 conditions have been fulfilled little hope of any material improve- 

 ment can be entertained. 



The results of the Scottish fisheries during the past decade are 

 summarised in the following table : — 



Summary of Means of Capture and Eesults. 



Year. 



1912 - 



1913 - 



1914 - 



1915 - 



1916 - 



1917 - 



1918 - 



1919 - 



1920 - 



1921 - 



Number of 

 Vessels. 



9,290 

 8,991 

 8,869 

 4,653 

 4,650 

 4,609 

 4,614 

 6,534 

 8,177 

 7,648 



Value of Boats 

 and Gear. 



£ 



5,777,102 

 6,035,952 

 6,297,745 

 1,668,765 

 1,827,346 

 1,902,167 

 3,038,592 

 9,223,456 

 11,916,468 

 7,907,467 



Total Catch* 



Quantity 

 (excluding 

 shell fish). 



Cwts. 

 8,117,826 

 7,267,328 

 6,926,241 

 2,319,009 

 3,412,030 

 3,079,768 

 3,313,228 

 5,968,866 

 6,325,939 

 5,200,229 



Value 

 (including 

 shell fish). 



£ 



3,518,423 

 3,805,736 

 3,036,245 

 2,109,022 

 3,206,550 

 3,704,789 

 6,066,588 

 6,147,945 

 6,626,829 

 5,012,956 



* Exclusive of landings by foreign fishing vessels. For totals inclusive of 

 such landings see Table B.~ No. III. (p. 120). 



We deeply regret to have to record the loss during the year of a 

 valued colleague in Mr. Duncan Maclver, J.P., Stornoway, who died 

 suddenly on 6th November. 



